Bacterial tracheitis in a young adult

A previously healthy young adult presented with inspiratory stridor and hoarseness but minimal dysphagia. Indirect laryngoscopy and lateral neck X-rays confirmed a diagnosis of membranous tracheitis. This responded to humidification, antibiotics and steroids. Secretions removed at direct laryngoscopy sent for culture grew Staphylococcus aureus. The literature is reviewed.     

Effect of freezing on iontophoretic transport through hairless rat skin.

The influence of frozen storage of hairless rat skin on the constant-current iontophoretic transport of a model weak acid, salicylic acid, was examined. Nearly a threefold increase was observed in the steady-state flux of salicylic acid through previously frozen skin (217.1 nmol h-1 cm-2) when compared with fresh, excised skin (72.3 nmol h-1 cm-2). The iontophoretic permeability of skin to salicylic acid was also found to be dependent upon the length of time skin samples remained in the frozen state. Differential scanning calorimetry studies revealed distinct differences in the thermograms for fresh and frozen skin. These results suggest that storage of skin samples in the frozen state may contribute to physical or chemical changes in skin structure.     

Suppression of aldosterone production by low-dose heparin

Low-dose heparin has achieved wide use for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis. Full-dose heparin (20,000 U/day or more) has a well-documented suppressive effect on adrenal aldosterone production. To determine whether this effect may also occur with low-dose heparin, 5 healthy male volunteers were given heparin, 5,000 U subcutaneously every 12 h for 10 days, and their renin-aldosterone axis was studied. Plasma aldosterone fell from a mean of 17.2 ng/dl at baseline to 6.6 on day 5 and 4.3 on day 10. The 24-hour urinary aldosterone fell from 11.5 micrograms/day at baseline to 5.3 and 6.8 on days 4-5 and 9-10, respectively. After stimulation with furosemide (60 mg orally) and 4 h ambulation, plasma aldosterone remained suppressed on heparin: 22.4 ng/sl at baseline, 7.0 on day 5 and 6.2 ng/dl on day 10. Plasma renin activity, serum and urinary electrolytes, and body weight were unchanged during the study. Hence, low-dose heparin can inhibit aldosterone production. Patients receiving this treatment should be observed (during and after therapy) for impaired electrolyte homeostasis.     

Unveiling the Correlation between Inadequate Energy/Macronutrient Intake and Clinical Alterations in Volunteers at Risk of Metabolic Syndrome by a Predictive Model

Although lifestyle-based interventions are the most effective to prevent metabolic syndrome (MetS), there is no definitive agreement on which nutritional approach is the best. The aim of the present retrospective analysis was to identify a multivariate model linking energy and macronutrient intake to the clinical features of MetS. Volunteers at risk of MetS (F = 77, M = 80) were recruited in four European centres and finally eligible for analysis. For each subject, the daily energy and nutrient intake was estimated using the EPIC questionnaire and a 24-h dietary recall, and it was compared with the dietary reference values. Then we built a predictive model for a set of clinical outcomes computing shifts from recommended intake thresholds. The use of the ridge regression, which optimises prediction performances while retaining information about the role of all the nutritional variables, allowed us to assess if a clinical outcome was manly dependent on a single nutritional variable, or if its prediction was characterised by more complex interactions between the variables. The model appeared suitable for shedding light on the complexity of nutritional variables, which effects could be not evident with univariate analysis and must be considered in the framework of the reciprocal influence of the other variables.     

Secondary Breast Cancer Sociodemographic Characteristics and Survival by Age Group

Annals of Surgical Oncology - Secondary cancers account for 16% of all new cancer diagnoses, with breast cancer (BC) the most common secondary cancer. We have shown that secondary BC has unique...     

Building a Cardio-Onco-Hematology Program

Purpose of Review

This review aims to outline the general principles of how to build a cardio-onco-hematology clinic, acknowledging that there are diverse practices ranging from private community settings to academic hospitals and each practice environment has to build its own program.

Recent Findings

The refinement of regimens and introduction of molecularly directed therapies have substantially increased survival rates for patients with cancer. In fact, a number of previous imminently fatal malignant disease processes have been turned into chronic diseases, such that patients now live with certain incurable cancers as they do, for instance, with rheumatoid arthritis. Improved cure rates and longer survivals have raised side effects of cancer treatments to a completely new level of significance. Cardiovascular toxicities are of particular concern given their impact on morbidity and mortality. In most extreme cases, patients might be cured from cancer but remain debilitated or die prematurely because of cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, not an insignificant proportion of cancer patients start cancer therapy with cardiovascular risk factors and diseases at baseline. With the aging of the population, this “joint venture” is only expected to increase with important implications for the management of cancer patients.

Summary

Given the need for familiarity with both, cancer and cardiovascular diseases and their ever-evolving start-of-the-art therapy and interaction potential, specialized efforts have been invoked, which may collectively be termed “onco-cardiology,” “cardio-oncology,” or “cardio-onco-hematology.” Herein, we provide recommendations for the creation and optimization of any such programmatic efforts.

     

Perioperative myocardial ischemia in isolated systolic hypertension (promise): A preliminary report

Canadian Journal of Anesthesia/Journal canadien d'anesthésie -